With the summer sun in full light, now is the best time to take your vehicle out for a great road trip adventure! Of course, just like all adventures, planning is the key to making sure that you and your friends can actually enjoy the time away and not get stuck on your way.

How to Plan for a Great Road Trip Adventure

To help get you started and on your way, Oils RGV has prepared some easy-to-follow tips.

Tire Condition

Even if you aren’t going off-road, the condition of your tire is important. Why? Because it only takes a blown tire to put you and your vehicle on the side of the road waiting for help to arrive. To make sure your tires are up to the task, a quick visual inspection is all that’s needed. Simply take your vehicle out into the light and give it a quick walk-around. The penny test is a great way to make sure your tread is at the level it should be. If any of your tires show signs that they’re on their way out - be sure to replace it before you leave.

Tire Pressure

Of course, the condition of your tire isn’t enough. Just before you leave, perhaps the day or night before, check your tire pressure. This tip is important for two reasons:

• The right tire pressure can improve your fuel economy
• Correctly pressured tires make your vehicle easier and safer to maneuver

Fluid Levels and Condition

If you can remember your parents telling you to always check your fluids levels before you went on a big drive then your folks knew what they were talking about! Give these levels a check for both their level and the condition they are in:

• Engine oil
• Coolant
• Brake Fluid
• Transmission Fluid
• Wiper Fluid

If any of these fluids are low in their level or you can see that they are past their use-by-date, be sure to top them up or replace them before you head off. Click here to buy Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil and keep your engine in the best condition during a long drive. If you aren’t sure this is the right product for your engine, speak with a professional at Oils RGV by calling (956) 458-9399 and trust that their expert advice will get you the right product for your engine needs or read more information at the online store.

Stop!

Not stop reading, but be sure that your vehicle can stop. Not only is it important to check that your car’s brakes are working fine before you head off for the safety of you and your passengers, but getting your brakes repaired while you are on the road can be a painful and expensive task to undertake. The best way to check the condition of your brakes is to get your vehicle out into the sunlight and get down on the ground and take a look. If you can see the starting of a pin showing from your padding then it’s a good sign that they will need to be replaced soon. Of course, if you can already hear the grinding this pin makes when you apply your brakes, then you have your answer without needing the visual inspection.

Electrics and Safety Features

The majority of vehicle owners take their electrics for granted. High-beam, indicators, airbags. And while these usually work when required, if you can see a flashing light on your dash or one of your headlamps is looking at little faded, before you take off for a road trip is a great time to get it fixed. As an example, a fading headlamp is an indicator that it’s on its way out. Given that you will be doing much of your driving at dusk and at night to reach your destination faster, this can prove not only a visibility hindrance but can also pose a serious safety risk.

Give Your Car a Synthetic Oil Change in Mission, TX Before You Leave

If your engine oil is looking a little worse-for-wear or your car just doesn’t feel like it’s running on all cylinders, a synthetic oil change in Mission, TX can help. By providing your car with a high-quality engine lubricant you are not only helping the engine to operate more smoothly but are also minimizing the amount of engine damage which can occur along the ride. Speak with an expert at Oils RGV on (956) 458-9399 to find out more or for help getting the right engine oil for your vehicle.